ICC Women’s World Cup 2025: rain threatens high-stakes Ind Vs Pak encounter

COLOMBO: Today’s game between arch-rivals Pakistan and India in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 is set to be a thrilling spectacle, but the much anticipated Ind Vs Pak clash may be overshadowed by both the weather and political tensions.

As the two teams gear up for their pivotal match today, ominous clouds loom over the stadium, with rain threatening to disrupt the action. Continuous downpours in Colombo forced Pakistan’s outdoor practice session to be canceled, leaving the team to train indoors.

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While weather reports indicate a 25 per cent chance of rain, the cloudy skies suggest the possibility of further interruptions.

The Pakistani women’s team enters the match on the back of a disappointing 7-wicket loss to Bangladesh in their opening game, while India comes off a solid 59-run victory over Sri Lanka. Both teams will be looking to build momentum, but a win for Pakistan would not only give them crucial points but also a chance to make history: they’ve never beaten India in 11 previous ODI encounters, with the last defeat coming in 2022 by 107 runs.

TENSION BEYOND CRICKET

The stakes of the match have been amplified by the political tension surrounding the encounter. Under the hybrid model, Pakistan is playing all its group-stage matches in Sri Lanka, forcing India to travel to Colombo for the game.

This meeting between the two traditional cricketing giants was already highly anticipated, but the current geopolitical climate has added extra sensitivity to the affair.

Reports indicate that Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur is unlikely to shake hands with her Pakistani counterpart, Fatima Sana, although the final decision will only be made at the toss. This echoes the controversial behavior of the Indian men’s team during the 2023 Asia Cup, when they refused to engage with Pakistan players in the spirit of sportsmanship.

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However, Pakistani captain Fatima Sana has made it clear that her team’s focus is solely on the game. “We are ready to move on from our last defeat and we are capable of beating any team. Our goal is to perform on the field, and that’s what matters most,” Sana stated in the pre-match press conference. She also hinted at a big performance from Sidra Amin and match-winning contributions from Muniba Ali, two of the team’s standout players.